Method and system for dynamic cell configuration

Abstract

An apparatus for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network is disclosed. During operation, the apparatus collects data regarding network conditions of the cellular network. In accordance with the collected network condition data, the apparatus changes an association of a transmit point from a second cell ID of a second hyper cell to a first cell ID of a first hyper cell. Virtual data channels, broadcast common control channel and virtual dedicated control channel, transmit point optimization, UE-centric channel sounding and measurement, and single frequency network synchronization are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network, the method comprising:
 collecting data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, the cellular network utilizing a wireless protocol;   in accordance with the collected data, determining that a first transmit point associated with a second hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol is to be added to a first hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol, wherein the first hyper cell includes at least one transmit point associated with a first cell identifier (ID); and   changing an association of the first transmit point from a second cell ID to the first cell ID, wherein at least one transmit point of the second hyper cell is associated with the second cell ID.   
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network conditions include load distribution, and wherein the method further comprises:
 determining that a traffic load of a portion of the cellular network exceeds a predetermined threshold; and   changing cell IDs of one or more transmit points transmitting to the portion of the cellular network.   
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network conditions include UE distribution across the network, and wherein the method further comprises:
 determining that a concentration of user equipments (UEs) serviced by the cellular network at a boundary of the first hyper cell is above a predetermined threshold; and   changing cell IDs of one or more transmit points to the cell ID of the first hyper cell, wherein the one or more transmit points transmit to the boundary of the first hyper cell.   
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that a second transmit point serves less than a threshold number of UEs; and   turning off the second transmit point in response to determining that the second transmit point is serving less than the threshold number of UEs.   
     
     
       5. An apparatus for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one collector configured to collect data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, the cellular network configured to utilize a wireless protocol;   at least one processing unit configured to:   determine that a first transmit point associated with a second hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol is to be added to a first hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol in accordance with the collected data, wherein the first hyper cell includes at least one transmit point associated with a first cell identifier (ID); and   change an association of the first transmit point from a second cell ID to the first cell ID, wherein at least one transmit point of the second hyper cell is associated with the second cell ID.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the network conditions include load distribution, and the at least one processing unit is configured to:
 determine that a traffic load of a portion of the cellular network exceeds a predetermined threshold; and   change cell IDs of one or more transmit points transmitting to the portion of the cellular network.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the network conditions include user equipment (UE) distribution across the network, and the at least one processing unit is configured to:
 determine that a concentration of UEs serviced by the cellular network at a boundary of the first hyper cell is above a predetermined threshold; and   change cell IDs of one or more transmit points to the cell ID of the first hyper cell, wherein the one or more transmit points transmit to the boundary of the first hyper cell.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one processing unit is configured to:
 determine that a second transmit point serves less than a threshold number of UEs; and   turn off the second transmit point in response to determining that the second transmit point is serving less than the threshold number of UEs.   
     
     
       9. An apparatus for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one collector configured to collect data regarding network conditions of the cellular network;   at least one processing unit configured to:   determine that a transmit point is to be added to a first hyper cell in accordance with the collected data, wherein the first hyper cell includes at least one transmit point associated with a first cell identifier (ID); and   change an association of the transmit point from a second cell ID to the first cell ID, wherein at least one transmit point of a second hyper cell is associated with the second cell ID,   wherein the apparatus is a base station controlling one or more remote radio heads and wherein the base station is adapted to dynamically change one or more cell identifier (ID) in response to changing network conditions, wherein:   the base station is connected to each of the one or more remote radio heads via a communication line; and   the one or more remote radio heads are adapted to receive and transmit radio frequency signals, and wherein the transmit point is a remote radio head.   
     
     
       10. A method comprising:
 distinguishing, by an apparatus, a user equipment (UE) specific virtual data channel transmitted from a subset of base stations based on a UE identifier (ID) associated with a data transmission,   wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are selected from a plurality of base stations of a first hyper cell in a cellular network,   wherein a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (IDs), and the plurality of base stations in the first hyper cell share a first common cell ID;   receiving, the apparatus, the data transmission in the UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from the subset of base stations,   wherein data scrambling of the data transmission is associated with the UE ID, and the subset of base stations transmitting the data transmission in the UE specific virtual data channel are transparent to the apparatus; and   receiving, by the apparatus, a control information transmission in a UE specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from a second subset of base stations selected from the plurality of base stations,   wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are different from the second subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual dedicated control channel.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of base stations is shared between the first hyper cell and a second hyper cell. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 10, wherein base stations are dynamically added to or dynamically removed from the first hyper cell. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12, wherein the base stations are dynamically added to or dynamically removed from the first hyper cell according to network topology, load distribution, and UE distribution. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 10, the data scrambling of the data transmission being associated with the UE ID and an assigned UE index. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus in a cellular network that includes a plurality of base stations of a first hyper cell, the apparatus comprising:
 a non-transitory memory storage comprising instructions; and   at least one processor in communication with the non-transitory memory storage, wherein the at least one processor executes the instructions to:
 distinguish a user equipment (UE) specific virtual data channel transmitted from a subset of base stations based on a UE identifier (ID) associated with a data transmission, 
 wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are selected from the plurality of base stations of the first hyper cell in the cellular network, 
 wherein a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (IDs), and the plurality of base stations in the first hyper cell share a first common cell ID; 
 receive the data transmission in the UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from the subset of base stations, 
 wherein data scrambling of the data transmission is associated with the UE ID, and the subset of base stations transmitting the data transmission in the UE specific virtual data channel are transparent to the apparatus; and 
 receive a control information transmission in a UE specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from a second subset of base stations selected from the plurality of base stations, 
 wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are different from the second subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual dedicated control channel. 
   
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the instructions to distinguish the UE specific virtual data channel include instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, to:
 distinguish the UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from at least one base station of the subset of base stations that is shared between the first hyper cell and a second hyper cell.   
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the instructions to distinguish the UE specific virtual data channel include instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, to:
 distinguish the UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from the subset of base stations selected from the plurality of base stations that are dynamically added to or dynamically removed from the first hyper cell.   
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the instructions to distinguish the UE specific virtual data channel include instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, to:
 distinguish the UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from the subset of base stations selected from the plurality of base stations that are dynamically added to or dynamically removed from the first hyper cell according to network topology, load distribution, and UE distribution.   
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 15, the data scrambling of the data transmission being associated with the UE ID and an assigned UE index. 
     
     
       20. A method comprising:
 transmitting, by a first base station to a user equipment (UE), a data transmission in a UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from a subset of base stations, the subset of base stations including the first base station,   wherein the UE distinguishes the UE specific virtual data channel based on a UE identifier (ID) associated with the data transmission, the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are selected from a plurality of base stations of a first hyper cell in a cellular network, a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (IDs), and the plurality of base stations in the first hyper cell share a first common cell ID, and   wherein data scrambling of the data transmission is associated with the UE ID, and the subset of base stations transmitting the data transmission in the UE specific virtual data channel are transparent to the UE; and   transmitting, by the first base station to the UE, a control information transmission in a UE specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from a second subset of base stations selected from the plurality of base stations, the second subset of base stations including the first base station,   wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are different from the second subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual dedicated control channel.   
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one of the plurality of base stations is shared between the first hyper cell and a second hyper cell. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 20, wherein base stations are dynamically added to or dynamically removed from the first hyper cell. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 22, wherein the base stations are dynamically added to or dynamically removed from the first hyper cell according to network topology, load distribution, and UE distribution. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 20, the data scrambling of the data transmission being associated with the UE ID and an assigned UE index. 
     
     
       25. A first base station of a plurality of base stations of a first hyper cell in a cellular network, the first base station comprising:
 a non-transitory memory storage comprising instructions; and   at least one processor in communication with the non-transitory memory storage, wherein the at least one processor executes the instructions to:
 transmit, to a user equipment (UE) in the cellular network, a data transmission in a UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from a subset of base stations, the subset of base stations including the first base station, 
 wherein the UE distinguishes the UE specific virtual data channel based on a UE identifier (ID) associated with the data transmission, the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are selected from the plurality of base stations of the first hyper cell in the cellular network, a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (IDs), and the plurality of base stations in the first hyper cell share a first common cell ID, and 
 wherein data scrambling of the data transmission is associated with the UE ID, and the subset of base stations transmitting the data transmission in the UE specific virtual data channel are transparent to the UE; and 
 transmit, to the UE, a control information transmission in a UE specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from a second subset of base stations selected from the plurality of base stations, the second subset of base stations including the first base station, 
 wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are different from the second subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual dedicated control channel. 
   
     
     
       26. The first base station of claim 25, wherein at least one of the plurality of base stations is shared between the first hyper cell and a second hyper cell. 
     
     
       27. The first base station of claim 25, wherein base stations are dynamically added to or dynamically removed from the first hyper cell. 
     
     
       28. The first base station of claim 27, wherein the base stations are dynamically added to or dynamically removed from the first hyper cell according to network topology, load distribution, and UE distribution. 
     
     
       29. The first base station of claim 25, the data scrambling of the data transmission being associated with the UE ID and an assigned UE index. 
     
     
       30. A system comprising:
 a plurality of base stations of a first hyper cell in a cellular network,   wherein a subset of base stations are selected from the plurality of base stations, and the subset of base stations are configured to:
 transmit, to a user equipment (UE) in the cellular network, a data transmission in a UE specific virtual data channel transmitted by the subset of base stations, 
 wherein the UE distinguishes the UE specific virtual data channel based on a UE identifier (ID) associated with the data transmission, a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (IDs), and the plurality of base stations in the first hyper cell share a first common cell ID, and 
 wherein data scrambling of the data transmission is associated with the UE ID, and the subset of base stations transmitting the data transmission in the UE specific virtual data channel are transparent to the UE; and 
 transmit, to the UE, a control information transmission in a UE specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted by a second subset of base stations of the plurality of base stations, 
 wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are different from the second subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual dedicated control channel. 
   
     
     
       31. The system of claim 30, wherein at least one of the plurality of base stations is shared between the first hyper cell and a second hyper cell. 
     
     
       32. The system of claim 30, wherein base stations are dynamically added to or dynamically removed from the first hyper cell. 
     
     
       33. The system of claim 32, wherein the base stations are dynamically added to or dynamically removed from the first hyper cell according to network topology, load distribution, and UE distribution. 
     
     
       34. The system of claim 30, the data scrambling of the data transmission being associated with the UE ID and an assigned UE index.